Shloka 41

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं य इच्छेच्छ्रेय आत्मन: । एकं ह्येव हरेस्तत्र कारणं पादसेवनम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣākhyaṁ ya icchec chreya ātmanaḥ ekaṁ hy eva hares tatra kāraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

Translation

Whoever seeks the fruits of dharma, artha, kama, and finally moksha should engage in devotional service to Bhagavan Hari, for service to His lotus feet is the very cause of fulfilling them all.

Synonyms

• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यम्: called dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa
• धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: (धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष)-आख्यम् = ‘called dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa’ (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इच्छेत्: may desire
• इच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रेयः: the highest good
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: for oneself/of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• एकम्: one (only)
• एकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (restrictive particle: only)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that (regard)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there/in that matter)

• कारणम्: cause/means
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पादसेवनम्: service of (His) feet
• पादसेवनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक; √सेव् + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: पाद-सेवनम् = ‘service of the feet’

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that only with the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can the demigods offer benedictions. Therefore, whenever any sacrifice is offered to a demigod, the Supreme Lord in the form of nārāyaṇa-śilā, or śālagrāma-śilā, is put forward to observe the sacrifice. Actually, the demigods cannot give any benediction without the sanction of the Supreme Lord. Nārada Muni, therefore, advised that even for religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation, one should approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offer prayers and ask for the fulfillment of one’s desire at the lotus feet of the Lord. That is real intelligence. An intelligent person never goes to demigods to pray for anything. He goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of all benediction.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Dhruva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the real cause of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa?

This verse states that the single true cause behind attaining any of these goals is pāda-sevanam—devotional service to Lord Hari’s lotus feet.

Why did Nārada Muni say this to Dhruva in Canto 4?

Dhruva approached the path of achievement with intense determination; Nārada redirected him to the Bhagavatam’s conclusion that all perfection—including liberation—ultimately rests on devotion to Hari.

How can I apply pāda-sevanam (service to the Lord’s feet) in modern life?

Practice steady bhakti through daily prayer and remembrance, hearing sacred texts, chanting the Lord’s names, and offering your work and choices in a spirit of service to God.